Means for controlling an actuating-rod.



C. S. LEONARD & C. 0. REEPS. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUATING ROD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, I915. llwjll Patented Jan. 16,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3% INVENTORS WITNESSES C, S. LEONARD & C. 0. REEPS. MEANS FORCONTROLLING AN ACTUATING ROD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19' 1915. N Patented Jan. 16, 1911.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. S. LEONARD & C. O REEPS. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUATING ROD,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. r915.

2 1 3 5, Patented Jim 16, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CHESTER S. LEONARD AND CHARLES 0. KEEPS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNOBS TO THE WILLEY COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENN-SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN AGTUATING-ROD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented d ain. Jlfi, TWW.

Application filed June 19, 1915. Serial No. 35,185.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHESTER S. LEONARD, andCHARLES 0. Bears, both citizens of the United States, residing in thecity and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Means for Controlling an Actuating-Rod, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates in general to mechanism used in connection withironing machines for laundries, in which a treadleoperatedfluid-pressure cylinder and valve mechanism are used to control themovement of an actuating rod, which is intended, in the application ofthe invention as an entirety to ironing machines, to itself operate'saddle and neck band presses, but which, as will be obvious when theinvention is understood, is adapted for the operation of any device, anelement of which is a mechanically controlled moving member typified bya rod, bar, or stem capable of being reciprocated under desired control.To the foregoing ends. our invention, having for its object an efiicientdevice for controlling the movement of an actuating rod per se,comprehends the. specific pneumatic valve and cylinder mechanismstypified in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described,thespecific subject-matter which we have invented being definitelyspecified in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention, we have shown in theaccompanying drawings, a certain type and embodiment of it which is atpresent preferred by us, because in practice it has given satisfactoryand reliable results. It is to be understood, however, that the variousinstrumentalities in which our invention is embodied can be variouslyarranged and organized, and that our invention is not, therefore,limited to the precise arrangement and organization of theseinstrumentalities.

Referring to the drawings, in which a typical embodiment of ourinvention is depicted: Figure 1 represents a. side elevation of thecomplete apparatus; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same; Fig. 3represents a fragmentary, side, sectional elevation through theactuating cylinder and piston,

. the control valve, controlling treadle, actuating lever and actuatingrod; Fig. 4 represents in plan the actuating lever removed from themachine. Fig. 5 represents in front elevation the machine shown in sideelevation in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal,-central, sidesection of the control valve and easing; Fig. 7 represents a transverseend section on the dotted line w-m of Fig. 6, of the casing of thecontrol valve; Fig. 8 represents in end elevation, viewed from the-leftof Fig. 6, the actuating valve.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings :1 is a pedestal of any preferred conformationin the form illustrated erected from a bed plate 2. \Vithin thispedestal, the actuating rod 3, to bemoved and controlled by ourvalve-controlling cylinder and piston, operates; the upper end of thepedestal having the guide or slide bearing 4:, through which theactuating rod has movement.

5 is an actuating lever, fulcrumed at 6 to a standard 7 erected upon thebed plate. Intermediately of its length, the lever is preferablybifurcated at 8 to admit within its bifurcation the lower end of theactuating rod, which, as shown, is so shaped as to fit the bifurcation,and is pivoted within the latter by a pivot 9 which plays within atransverse slot 10 in the bifurcation, to prevent strain of theactuating rod upon and within its guide in the movement of the.-

lever. The outer end of the lever is provided with a slot 11, throughwhich passes a transverse piston pin 12, fastened to the split head 13of the rod 14 of the piston 15. The piston has reciprocatory movementwithin a cylinder 16 erected upon the bed plate, the head 17 of which isformed with the usual bearing 18 for the piston rod. The piston isperipherally provided with packings 19 of any preferred character, and,in the construction shown, is circumferentially recessed upon its upperface, as at 20, so as to receive within it, a coiled spring 21 whichabove the-piston abuts against the inner face of the cylinder head, andserves, when the lead is given to the exhaust. to move the pistondownward to its basal or normal position within the cylinder.

22 designates air vents preferably formed in the cylinder head.

Obviously, the reciprocation of the piston will through the actuatinglever, occasion the up and down or in and out movement of the actuatingrod. The downward movement of the piston being occasioned by the spring21, its movement in an upward direction will be occasioned by the motivefluid, such as compressed air, which is introduced below it under thecontrol of a control valve 23 of the following form and preferablymounted in the following manner:

24 designates a valve casing, in the organization shown projectinghorizontally and right angularly outward from the cylinder, andpreferably being a casting integral with the cylinder; This valve casingis shown as of cylindric form and as embodying the cylindric valvechamber 25, into which the motive fluid inlet 26 opens. The valve casingis closed by a head 27 formed with an axial bore 28, through whichpasses the valve-rotating rod 29, which is supported by an adjustablebearing 30 fitted within the head 27 of the valve casing,and which isalso exteriorly to the bearing 30 preferably supported by a bearing 31formed within the standard 7. Beyond said standard 7, the valve rod isequipped with a double foot-treadle 32, locked to it by the lock nut 33.

34 designates an adjustable screw-stop in the bed plate, to control thedownward move-' ment of the treadle in the direction and positionrepresented in Fig. 5. Obviously, the treadle controls the oscillatorymovement of the valve rod 29 in both directions. The control valve 23,which is fitted within the valve chamber 25, is preferably of theexternal hemispherical conformation represented in the drawings, and isformed with a cylindric seat or step 35, within which the inner end ofthe actuating rod is entered and securely fastened by the key 36 whichpasses through the rod.

37 designates a compression-spring abutting between the outer surface ofthe valve and the inner face of the head 27 of the valve casing, thefunction of which is to vmaintain the valve against the valve seat 38,

in the valve casing, as particularly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Theinner face 45 of the valve is formed with a crescent-shaped orsegmentally formed recess 39' (Figs. 2, 6 and 8-) which has a range ofrotation referably to a. similarly but preferably oppositely formedcasing recess 40, which faces inwardly toward and bears against saidinner valve face 45, and is formed with a port 41 or aperture leading toan exhaust outlet 42, through the valve casing, as best shown in Figs.2, 6 and 7.

43 designates a fluid passage passing through the casting of thecylinder and valve casing, and leading into the base of the cylinder,through which, whenthe aperture H in the control valve registers withit,

motive fluid introduced through the fluid inlet 26 into the valvechamber 25 passes, as shown in Fig. 3, to the lower portion of thepiston cylinder 16, to raise the piston and compress the .piston spring21. Obviously, according to the position of the control valve when atrest in either its right or its left hand turn under the actuation orrotary movement occasioned by the throw of the double treadle, therespective opposing seat faces 45 and 38 of the valve and the valvecylinder being in contact,the respective peripheral positions of thevalve recess 39 and casing recess 10, and the consequent registry ornon-registry of the aperture 41 in the valve with the fluid passage 13in the casing, will determine whether the inlet passages are open forthe entrance of the actuating fluid into the cylinder, or are closed andthe outlet passages in registry and open to give the lead to theexhaust.

It will now be apparent that we have devised a new and usefulconstruction of actuating mechanism to control 1e movement of anactuating rod which embodies features of advantage, and that while wehave, in the present instance, shown and described a preferredembodiment of it, which has in practice been found to give satisfactoryand reliable results, it is to be understood that the embodiment issusceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character stated, comprising in combination,a pistoncylinder,a valve casing extending laterally from and having a fluidpassage extending into said cylinder, and provided with fluid inlet andexhaust ports,a piston within said cylinder,an actuating lever connectedat one end with the piston rod, and fulcrumed at the other endexternally of the cylinder,an actuating rod connected with said leverbetween its fulcrum and its connection with the piston,a rotary valveWithin the valve chamber,a valve recess in the face of the rotaryvalve,an oppositely corresponding recess in the valve-face of thecasing,a valve-rotating rod,and a foot treadle for rotating said rod andvalve.

2. A device of the character stated, comprising in combinat ion,a pistoncylinder,a valve casing extending laterally from and having a fluidpassage extending into said cylinder, and provided with fluid inlet andexhaust ports,a piston within said cylinder,a spring within the cylinderacting upon one end of the piston,an actuating lever connected at pistonrod and fulcrumed at the other end externally of the cylinder,anactuating one end with the naiaaea rod connected with said lever betweenits fulcrum and its connection with the piston,arotary valve within thevalve chamber,a spring within the valve chamber acting against thevalve,a valve recess in the face of the valve,an oppositelycorresponding recess in the valve face of the cas.

1ng,-a valve-rotating rod,,-and a foot treadle for-rotating said rod andvalve.

3. A device of the character stated, comprising in combination,a pistoncylinder,--a valve casing extending laterally from and having a fluidpassage extending into said cylinder, and provided with fluid inlet andexhaust ports,-'a piston within said cylinder,-an actuating leverconnected at one end with the piston rod and fulcrumed at the other endexternally of both the cylinder and the valve chamber and intermediatelyof the valve chamber and the foot treadle,an actuating rod connectedwith said lever between its fulcrum and its connection with the piston,arotary valve within the valve chamber,a valve recess in the face of therotary valve,an oppositely corresponding recess in the valve-face of thecasing,a valve-rotating rod,a

bearing for said rod in the external end of.

the valve chamber,another bearing for said rod in the fulcrum support ofthe actuating lever,and a foot treadle for rotating said rod and valve.

4. A device of the character stated, comprising in combination,-a pistoncylinder,a valve casing extending laterally from and having a fluidpassage extending into said cylinder,a fluid inlet port leading into thevalve casing to the rear of the valve,a fluid exhaust port leading outfrom said casing in advance of the valve,-

a piston within said cylinder,an actuating lever connected at one endwith the piston rod, and fulcrumed at the other end externally of thecylinder,-an actuating rod connected with said lever between its fulcrumand its connection with the piston,a rotary valve Within the valvechamber provided with a valve aperture adapted to register with thefluid passage of the valve casing, a valve recess in the face of therotary valve,an oppositely corresponding recess in the valve-face of thecasing,a valverotating rod,-and a foot treadle for rotating said rod andvalve.

5. A device of the character stated, comprising in combination,apistoncylinder,a valve casing extending laterally. from and having a fluidpassage extending into said cylinder,-a fluid inlet port leading intothe valve casing to the rear of the valve,a fluid exhaust port leadingout from said casing in advance of the valve,-

CHESTER s. LEONARD. CHARLES o. nE rs.

Witnesses:

E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, C. D. MeVAr.

